Frame structure having improved joint means



Aug. 23, 1966 R. c. ROLLAND FRAME STRUCTURE HAVING IMPROVED JOINT MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1964 Aug. 23, 1966 R. c. ROLLAND 3,263,252

FRAME STRUCTURE HAVING IMPROVED JOINT MEANS Filed Jan. 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,268,252 FRAME STRUCTURE HAVING IMPROVED JOINT MEANS Robert C. Rolland, 7 Place Stanislas, Cannes, France Filed Jan. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 339,199 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Jan. 23, 1963, 2,813/ 63 Claims. (Cl. 28756) This invention relates to framed structures provided with improved means for assembling the frame component members.

It is more especially directed to arrangements for quickly and reliably assembling the extremities of beams, joists, rafters and the like to posts or columns on a building site.

In conventional frame structures such joints or panel points as they are sometimes called are now frequently effected by the provision of a pair of sleeve-like members symmetrically en-gageable around a centering insert, e.g., forming the core of a column, said sleeve-like members having radial shell-like extensions adapted to grip between them the projecting end of a beam of the structure, which is then pinned in position. This conventional means of assembly is objectionable in that the stresses developed therein, e.g., in the pins securing the beams to the extensions of the sleeve members, are ill-defined and cannot be accurately controlled so as to achieve a uniform distribution of loads throughout the panel points of the structure. Moreover the beams tend to slip in the shelllike members under the loads transmitted therethrough.

Objects of this invention are to overcome the above and other difficulties of conventional frame assemblies and to provide improved means for joining the component members of a framed structure which will be substantially independent of the members themselves, will ensure accurately controllable distribution of stresses and loads throughout the structure, and will be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided frame structure which comprises a column made up of alignable column members having tubular end sections, a cylindrical center insert member having its end parts insertable into the corresponding tubular end sections of a pair of aligned column members, a pair of ring members engageable around an intermediate part of the insert member between the corresponding end surfaces of the column members, the ring members having radially projecting extensions formed with mutually facing surfaces adapted to grip between them the tenon-like projecting end part of at least one beam of the structure, and cooperating interengageable means at each end of the insert member and in the tubular end section of each column member operable to press the tubular end sections of both aligned column members towards each other against the opposite sides of the pair of ring members while simultaneously tensioning said insert member.

In a preferred embodiment, the cooperating inferengageable means at each end of the insert member and in the tubular end section of each column member are provided in the form of screw threads.

It will be understood that with this arrangement, the tension force controllably applied to the centering insert member on erection will make it possible to cause all of the components involved in the panel point under consideration to participate equally and uniformly in the transmission of loads between the upper and lower column members and the beams.

Further features of the invention will stand out from the ensuing description with reference to the accompanying drawing, given by way of example but not of limitation.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a column member and an insert;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a ring member having a flange reduced to three radial spikes, about to be inserted about an insert projecting from a column member;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partly exploded, showing a joint involving two beams and a colurrm;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an assembled joint about to be completed by the adjunction of a bracing member thereto for connecting together two parallel columns; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of ring member for use in a frame structure embodying this invention.

In FIG. 1, there is shown a steel tubular centering insert 1 having a machined body, screw-threaded at both ends, and about to be engaged into a tubular, steel column member 2, having an internal screw thread cut in its end, complementary to that of the insert. The end face 3 of the column member 2 is machined to a flat smooth condition.

A ring member 4 having its end faces 5 machined flat, has its bore 6 formed to a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of insert 1 and has three spikes or spokes 7 projecting radially from it in a plane normal to the axis of the ring. Of the three spikes 7, two are shown aligned on a common diameter of the ring while the third extends along a radius normal to said common diameter, as will be clear from FIG. 2 illustrating the insert 1 fitted and screwed into the tubular column member or post 2, and the ring 4 about to be engaged around the projecting part of insert 1.

The spikes 7 have corresponding surfaces, e.g., the surfaces directed upwards in FIG. 2, formed with a V- notch 8 and, radially outward of said notch, a bevel surface providing an end tooth for the spike, and a hole 9 is bored through the inner sloping wall of the V-notch in a direction parallel to the axis of the ring bore.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ring member 4 is fitted in position about the tubular centering insert 1 and is resting on the upper end face of column member 2. A further ring member 4, identical with the one described but inverted in position with respect to it, is about to be fitted in turn around the insert .1 over the first ring member, and a further tubular column member 2 is shown in position to be thereafter screwed about the projecting threaded end of insert 1 to fix both ring members 4 in position. Before this is done however, one or more beams or other structural members, such as the two beams 10 and 11, are to be engaged between the spikes of the respective ring members to provide the desired panel point, as will now be described in detail.

Each of the beams 10 and 11 (of which the former may for instance be an end beam and the latter a longitudinal beam of the frame structure), has :a tenon 12 fitted into and projecting from its end, with the projecting head part 13 of the tenon being contoured at each of its upper and lower side surfaces to correspond with the contouring of the notched side of a spike 7. Moreover, the tenon head 13 is formed with a hole 911 adapted to register with the holes 9 of the spikes 7. The heads 13 of the beam tenon 12 are inserted between the notched facing surfaces of related spikes 7 of the two ring members 4, and bolts 14 are then inserted through the aligned holes 9 and 9a of each related pair of stakes 7 of the respective ring members 4 and the interposed tenon 13, whereafter the bolts are secured with nuts, such as 14b.

In the illustrated example, the end beam 10 of the frame structure comprises a channel section 15 provided withinternal stiffener brackets 16 spaced along the length of the beam.

The longitudinal beam 11 is shown as being composed of a deeper channel section 17 and a shallower channel section 18, both sections being fianged and assembled by way of their flanges to provide a box beam or girder.

In either case the tenons 12 are shown as having a rectangular body part fitted into the end recess of the channel section 15 or 17 and secured therein as by means of rivets. It will be understood however that various other arrangements may be used according to circumstance. Thus, the tenons 12 may be made wholly or partly integral with the beams. The side flanges of the beam channel section, such as 15 or 17, may for this purpose be cut out at their end to provide the parallel, spaced, flat, lateral side surfaces of the tenon 12, and a strip corresponding in width to the spacing between said side flanges and bent to a suitable shape may then be welded to bridge the gap between said lateral side faces of the tenon and provide the notched and perforated upper and lower surfaces the tenon.

Bracing means are advantageously provided in the improved frame structure of the invention, and will be described with reference to FIG. 4. Where such bracing is desired in the plane of a beam, e.g., the beam (not shown) from which the tenon 12 of FIG. 4 is assumed to project, a brace connecting member 19 is placed over the stake 7 in the appropriate position. The member 19 has a rear end surface conformed to fit the cylindrical surface of column member 2, and a grooved surface 20 fitting over the upper surface of stake 7. The member 19 is formed with a hole 91; registering with the hole 9 in the stake 7, so that a bolt 14a, of appropriately increased length, can be passed through the brace connecting member at the same time as through the stake members 7 and tenon 12 in constituting the joint as earlier described.

The member 19 has an upper end surface that is bevelled, and formed with a threaded aperture 21 at an angle, e.g., 45, to the axis of the column 2. This aperture is adapted to receive the threaded end of a tie-rod or strut 22 having oppositely handed screw threads formed on its opposite ends as at 23 and 24. The free end of tie-rod or strut 22 is screwed into a correspondingly threaded hole 21a, which is one of four diagonally disposed holes formed in a bracing collar 25. It will be understood that the other threaded holes of the collar receive the threaded ends of further tie-rods 22 which are similarly secured to other joints of the frame structure in a common plane, only one of which other joints is shown on FIG. 4, thereby to provide a bracing assembly for the frame panel.

Preferably, the described components of the frame structure are provided with suitable protective surface treatments and or coatings. Thus the inner surface of the tubular column members 2 is desirably coated, in the manufacturing shop, with a firmly bonded protective plas tic coating. The outer surface of the various elements described may be galvanized or otherwise treated.

The joining operations involved in assembling the frame structure of the invention, briefly referred to above, will now be described in greater detail. Referring to FIG. 1 the arrow f1 indicates the displacement imparted to the tubular centering insert 1 to engage it into the tubular column member 2, into which the insert is then screwed as stated above. The screwing operation is preferably performed using a wrench or key (not shown) insertable into the bore of insert 1 from its upper end, said key having two jaws formed with part-cylindrical outer surfaces pivoted to an eccenter cam positioned between them and which is rotatable by means of an upwardly projecting lever secured to the cam.

Actuation of the lever forces the jaws of the key outward and against the inner surface of insert 1, whereby the insert can be screwed into the column member 2 Without any damage to the outer surface of the insert. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2, the lower ring member 4 is fitted over the insert 1 by a displacement indicated by arrow f2. It will be noted that the contacting side and end surfaces of the insert and ring members are preferably finished so as to be smooth and parallel to facilitate relative sliding movements and accurate engagement therebetween.

FIG. 3 shows the lower ring 4 of the joint assembled on to the lower column member 2. At this stage the tenon head 13 of each of the beams such as 10 and 11 involved in the panel point may be fitted into the notched upper surfaces of the respective stakes 7 as indicated by the respective arrows f3 (for .beam 10) and f4-f5 (for beam 11). The upper ring member 4 is fitted over the insert 1 (as shown by arrows f6) in such manner that the notched under surfaces of the stakes 7 of said upper ring member fit over the toothed upper surfaces of the respective tenon heads 13. It will be understood that depending on the particular character of the frame structure being assembled, the opposite ends of the beams such as 10, 11 may be provided with tenons 12 similar to those shown and simultaneously engageable with other stakes at another panel point, or the beams may be cantilever-mounted, since the joint of the invention imparts sufiicient stability and rigidity to the beam-end assembly to permit such cantilever mounting of the beam.

Each beam is then positively assembled in position by inserting a bolt 14 through the registering holes 9 and 9 of the beam tenon and stakes.

The upper column member 2 is then engaged over the projecting threaded upper end of insert 1, as indicated by arrow f7, and screwed in position, thereby blocking the interposed components firmly in place with their mating surfaces in tight fitting engagement.

It will be noted that the joint assembling process thus described is simple and fast and does not require the use of plumb lines, levels or similar instruments to achieve the desired accuracy.

As regards the cross-bracing device shown in FIG. 4, it will be apparent that the device shown makes itpossible to interconnect four panel points positioned at the apices of a quadrangle so as to transfer between them any oblique stresses that may be present. Obviously, however, the bracing arrangement, where used, may involve other numbers and relationships of. the tie-rods 22instead of those shown.

It should also be observed that where the panel point considered is positioned at the top of a column, rather than at an intermediate point, the upper one of the column members 2 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, would be omitted and replaced by a simple nut or the like.

When the joint of the invention has been completed, the tenon 12 of each transverse frame member, e.g., beam, is locked as in a vise between the notched jaws provided by the stakes 7, rather than being simply fitted in a relatively loose manner, in a slot or mortise as in a conventional joint. The clamping forces applied to the jaws of the vise are provided primarily by the tension imparted to the centering insert member 1 when the column members are screwed on the threaded ends of the insert member.

While this clamping action is reinforced by the action of the loads transmitted through the column across the panel point, it is important to note that reliance for the firm clamping of the beams is not placed on the transmitted load, which may well vary in an uncontrollable way, but mainly on the initial tension applied to the insert member 1 as described above. It is this initial tension which is primarily responsible according to the invention for the attachment of the beams and the cohesion of the panel point assembly as a whole. It is also noted that the degree to which the insert member is prestressed in tension can be adjusted and controlled in an accurate manner thorugh the use of-a suitable dynamometer of torque-responsive wrench, adapted to release on application of a prescribed torque load, when screwing the colum members on to the threaded ends of the centering insert.

The regular distribution of loads is further improved owing to the firm and intimate engagement between the components made possible by the rectified engaging surfaces.

The resulting firmly locked condition of the tenons in turn ensures a satisfactory transfer of loading forces between the column and beams.

It may in this connection be observed that due to the angular relationship of the mating faces of the stakes 7 and tenon 12 to the axis of the column, the forces transmitted through the tenon to the column act as compression stresses. Any tendency to slippage between said mating faces is prevented and the resulting assembled joint is substantially perfectly unyielding.

The fact that the conventional means of assembly of a panel point are, according to the invention, broken up into a plurality of separate parts including the tubular centering insert, two rings with radial stakes or flanges and tenons, is advantageous in that accurate machining of the mating surfaces is facilitated. The relatively small number of different components of standard shape and dimensions can readily be manufactured by series production methods. It has already been noted that the assembly of the components on the building site is simply and quickly carried out, permitting large savings in time.

The assembly process, as above described, is of such nature that it does not tend to damage the surfaces of the joint components, as is the case with the riveting and/ or welding operations required in conventional joints, whereby the frame components of the invention can and preferably are provided with permanent protective coating or surface treatments, applied in the manufacturing plant rather than on the building site after assembly, thereby providing an additional saving in erection time.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the embodiment of the invention shown and described without exceeding the scope of the invention.

Thus the column members, rather than being tubular throughout, may be provided as ordinary sectional beams, .with tubular end-pieces into which the tubular centering inserts can be fitted. While threaded connections between the inserts and the column members are preferred, they may be dispensed with and other securing means provided instead. The ring members may be provided with any suitable number of radial stakes, arranged in any desired angular relationship. In fact, according to a desirable form of the invention, the separate radial stakes shown can be replaced on a ring member 4a (FIG. 5) by a continuous circular flange 7a having one face formed with a V-shaped circular groove 8a corresponding in radial cross section to the cross section of the notches 8 provided in the radial stakes or spikes 7 of the previously described ring members 4. In such case the tenons may have their toothed surfaces made arcuate to conform with an arc of the groove. An advantage of such an arrangement, of course, is that a single type of flanged ring member can be used regardless of the number of beams to be attached to a column at a given panel point and regardless of the angular disposition of those beams around the column.

The stakes, or flanges, projecting from the ring members do not necessarily project in a plane normal to the axis of the ring, but may extend at an angle to such axis. The tubular members into which the centering inserts are fitted according to the invention do not necessarily form part of vertical columns, but may assume other positions and functions in the frame structure, and may be horizontal or inclined. The angles formed by the mating surfaces of the stakes (or flanges) and tenons would in each case be predetermined with regard to the directions of the forces to be transmitted between the parts.

What I claim is:

1. A frame structure for a building which comprises at least one column including axially alignable column mem bers having tubular end sections, a cylindrical centering insert member having end parts insertable into adjacent tubular end sections of a pair of aligned column mem bers, a pair of ring members engageable around an intermediate part of said insert member between the end surfaces of said adjacent tubular end sections of the column members, said ring members having radially projecting extensions formed with confronting jaw-like surfaces, at least one beam having a tenon-like projecting end part mating with said jaw-like surfaces of the extensions and adapted to be gripped therebetween, and cooperating in terengageable means at each of said end parts of the in sert member and in the tubular end section of each column member operable to axially draw towards each other the tubular end sections of both aligned column members against said pair of ring members therebetween while simultaneously tensioning said insert member, thereby to clamp said extensions of the ring members against said end part of the beam therebetween.

2. A frame structure as in claim 1; wherein said interengageable means for drawing the tubular end sections of the column members axially toward each other includes external threads on said end parts of the insert member and mating internal threads in the tubular end sections of the column members.

3. A frame structure as in claim 1; wherein each of said column members is tubular throughout its entire length.

4. A frame structure as in claim 1; wherein said insert member is tubular.

5. A frame structure as in claim 1; wherein said extensions are in the form of continuous circular radially projecting flanges.

6. A frame structure as in claim 1; wherein said extensions are in the form of radially projecting spokes.

7. A frame structure as in claim 1; wherein said confronting surfaces of the extensions have recesses therein of V-shaped cross-section.

8. A frame structure as in claim 1; wherein said extensions and the tenon-like end parts gripped therebetween have aligned holes; and

further comprising securing bolts extending through said aligned holes.

9. A frame structure as in claim 1; wherein a plurality of said columns are provided; and further comprising bracing means connected under tension to extensions of the ring members in two of said columns.

10. A frame structure as in claim 9; wherein said bracing means includes brace connecting members secured to the related extensions of the ring members over the surfaces of said related extensions which are opposed to said jaw-like surfaces thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 343,237 6/1886 Forsberg 248-230 910,510 1/1909 Davis 287103 2,581,032 1/1952 Landsman 2872 2,962,133 11/1960 Kivett et a1.

CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner. I. B. TALTON, D. W. AROLA, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A FRAME STRUCTURE FOR A BUILDING WHICH COMPRISES AT LEAST ONE COLUMN INCLUDING AXIALLY ALIGNABLE COLUMN MEMBERS HAVING TUBULAR END SECTIONS, A CYLINDRICAL CENTERING INSERT MEMBER HAVING END PARTS INSERTABLE INTO ADJACENT TUBULAR END SECTIONS OF A PAIR OF ALIGNED COLUMN MEMBERS, A PAIR OF RING MEMBERS ENGAGEABLE AROUND AN INTERMEDIATE PART OF SAID INSERT MEMBER BETWEEN THE END SURFACES OF SAID ADJACENT TUBULAR END SECTIONS OF THE COLUMN MEMBERS, SAID RING MEMBERS HAVING RADIALLY PROJECTING EXTENSIONS FORMED WITH CONFRONTING JAW-LIKE SURFACES, AT LEAST ONE BEAM HAVING A TENON-LIKE PROJECTING END PART MATING WITH SAID JAW-LIKE SURRACES OF THE EXTENSIONS AND ADAPTED TO BE GRIPPED THEREBETWEEN, AND COOPERATING INTERENGAGEABLE MEANS AT EACH OF SAID END PARTS OF THE INSERT MEMBER AND IN THE TUBULAR END SECTION OF EACH COLUMN MEMBER OPERABLE TO AXIALLY DRAW TOWARDS EACH OTHER THE TUBULAR END SECTIONS OF BOTH ALIGNED COLUMN MEMBERS AGAINST SAID PAIR OF RING MEMBERS THEREBETWEEN WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY TENSIONING SAID INSERT MEMEBR, THEREBY TO CLAMP SAID EXTENSIONS OF THE RING MEMBER AGAINST SAID END PART OF THE BEAM THEREBETWEEN. 